Electric water-level indicator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

0. H. WIOKBRSHAM.

BLEGTRIG WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

No. 350,279. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.

INVENTOR fiflmxzr ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Fholc-Luhcgrapher. wasnm um 0v :3.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. H. WIGKERSHAM.

ELEGTRIG WATER LEVEL INDICATOR.

No. 350,279. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.

WITNESSES M x INV NTOR 94% I 4.4% I BY ATTORNEYS.

n PETERS, PhnlvLilhngnpher, washm wnv 0 x CHARLES H. XVTCKERSHAM, OF POTTSTOXVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRlC-WATER-LEVEL INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,279,

dated October 5, 1886.

Application filed May 12, 1886. Serial No. 201,96-l. (X0 model.)

To a ZZ "whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES H. \VrcknnsH'AM, of .Pottstowu, in the county of" Mont gomery and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in lfilectric ater-Level Indicators f or Steam-130i lers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereot, in whiel1 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved indicator. Fig. 2 is an (ailarged transverse section of a part of the indicating apparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on line m a; in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the circuit-controlling apparatus. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sec tion of one of the circuit makers and breakers. Fig. (3 is a transverse section taken on liner 3 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view ot' the pivots ot' the float-arm.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the d rawi n The object of my invention .is to construct an electric water-level indicator for steamboilers, which. will constantly indicate, by means of an index and dial, the height ol' the water, and show its rise and fall in inches and fractions thereof; also to provide an electric annnnciator with visible and audible signals for indicating at any distant point the variation of the water-level in the boiler beyond the prescribed limits; also in the case of a series of boilers to indicate in which one the water is too high or too low.

It also consists in means for stopping the audible alarm after attention has been called to the condition of the boiler, without :in any way affecting the visible signal, the visible signal being controlled entirely by the waterlevel 01: the boiler.

It also further consists in means for adjust ing the devices so as to give the signals at any point in the rise 01' fall 01' the water.

The float-chamber A is connected with the steam and water room of the boiler by the pipes 13 G, which are of sufficient size to permit of a tree circulation of water and steam to and from the float-chamber A. The float chamber A is provided on one side thereof with an extension, I), in which is iournaled the float-spindle E, carrying the float-arm F, to the end of which is secured the float (l, which is sustained by the water contained in the chamber A.

The spindle I l turns in conical adjustable bearings a a. The bearing a is made tubular, and the spindle E is reduced :in diameter and extends through the bearing, and through a stuffing-box. Z), in the end thereof, outside ol.

the float-chamber extension D. The bearings of the spindle E are made as light possible consistent with strength to reduce friction, and to diminish the work of the float G. The bearings a a are formed of bronze or unoxidizable metal, and are preferably inserted through the sides of the floatchamber extension D, and secured by nuts and packed to prevent the escape ol. water or steam around them, (as shown in Fig. 3;) but I do not confine myself to this construction, as the spindle may be supported by a yoke, H, attached to one wall of the float-chamber, or to the shell of the boiler, as shown in Fig. 7.

The extension I) is provided with a shell, I, upon which is secured a case, J, which con tains the circuit making and breaking mechanism and theindex and dial. In the case Jis journaled a spindle, c, which is connected with the float-spindle ll by the coupling 17. The case J is provided with a dial, 0, on the front thereof, which is covered by a glass plate, 1. The spindle 0 passes through the case J and projects beyond the dial 0, to receive the index 1 which is placed parallel with the floatarm F, and which moves along the curved graduated scale 71. In the case J and upon the spindle c is secured an arm, 1', carrying at its outer end a curved bar, j, forming a semicircle, with the spindle c as a center. The arm 1'' is placed loosely upon the spindle (1, its free end touching one side of the curved bar 7'. The curved bar j is provided with a series of holes, 7., in any one of which maybe inserted the bolt Z, which fastens the arm 5 to the curved bar j, so that the arms 1 27 move together when the spindle c is turned.

Upon each arm 7' i. is secured a circuitcloser, K K, consisting of a block, or, of wood or other suitable non-conductor, in which is termed a cavity for receiving a glass bulb, a,

which is secured therein by a stopper, 0, platinum wires 19 2 being fused in diametricallyopposite sides of the bulb n, with the points of the wires near each other, but not in contact. Before sealing, the bulb is partly filled with mercury.

The arm 1;, carrying the circuit-closer K, is

' adjusted relative to the water-level and the float,-so that the float will tilt it suliici'ently to cause the mercury contained by the circuitcloser to complete the circuit between the platinum wires p when the water is at the highest point, and the arm '5, carrying the circuit-closerK, is adjusted along the curved bar j, so that it will tilt sufficiently to cause the mercury to complete the circuit between the wires p p, when the water in the boiler descends to a pointat which it is desirable to give the alarm. The upper platinum wires, 12, are connected by flexible conductors q q with a wire, 1-, leading to the binding-post s, and the platinum wires p are connected by flexible conductors t t with the binding-posts n a.

Each boiler is provided with a closed cireuit-battery, L, and where a number of indicators are employed one pole of each battery may be connected with a single return-wire, w. The binding-posts s u a areinsulated from each other, and the binding-post s is connected with the battery L by the wirea, and from the binding-posts u u wires b b lead to the annunciator M. The annunciator M is provided with as many indexes and as many pairs of annunciator magnets as there are boilers in the series.

Each annunciator in the present case consists of two electro-magnets, c 0, between the poles of which is suspended a needle, d, of magnetic material. Stop-pins c are placed near the poles of the magnets to prevent the actual contact with the poles of the magnet. The wires 1) b communicate with the magnets 0' 0, respectively, and the remaining terminals of the helices are connected with each other and with the relaymagnet e. The current sent over the wires 1) b will affect one or the other of the magnets c c. When the circuit-closer K is operative, the annunciator-needle will be moved in one direction, indicating high water, and when the circuitcloser K is in action the needle will be moved in the opposite direction, indicating low water. The remaining terminal of the relay-magnet e is connected with the return-wire 20, so that whenever the annunciator indicates'high or low water the current operating the annunciator will also operate the relay, so that an alarm will be given upon the bellf, in the manner presently to be described.

The relay consists of the magnet e, of the usual construction, and an armature-lever, g, pivoted on the standard it, and carrying a-contact-spring, Z. The free end of the armaturelever g is provided with a catch, j, and the pivoted end is provided with an arm, for receiving one end of the retractile spring Z, the opposite end of which is connected, by means of a thread ,with a tension-screw, m, projecting upward through the base N of the relay. A11 arm, a, supported by the base and extending over the top of the armature-lever 9, supports a screw, 0, for limiting the upward movement of the armature-lever 9. To the base of the relay is secured an insulated standard, q, supporting inthe top thereof a contact-screw, 4-, which is in the path of the contactspring Z, carried by the armature-lever 9, so that when the armature-lever is drawn down an electric contact is established between the spring I and the screw 9'. The standard q of each relay is connected with one pole of the local battery s, the other pole of which is connected by a wire, t, with one binding-post of the. electric alarm-bellf,which is of the ordinary construction, and therefore needs no description, the other binding-post of the bell being connected by the wire a with the post h, supporting the armature-lever.

To the base N is pivoted a lever, O, the

longer arm of which extendsupward into position to engage the catch j and be engaged thereby. The shorter arm of the leverO projects below its pivot in' position to be engaged by the push-rod P, which extends through the support Q of the relay and through the casing of the aununciator, and is provided with aknob or handle, '0, and with a collar, w. Between the support Q and the collar won the rod 1 is placed aspiral spring, x,which abuts against the support Q and presses the rod]? outward.

\Vhen the circuit is completed through the relay-magnet e and ,the spring Z is brought into contact with the contact-screw r, thelocal circuit is completed through the spring and contract-screw and the current from the battery s flows through the wire t, through the magnet 01' the bell f, wire a, post h, armature-lever g, spring Z, and screw r, back to the battery. The bell continues to sound so long as the circuit is closed by either of the circuit-closers K K; but as soon as thecircuit of the battery L is opened by the movement of one or the other of the circuit-closers K K the armature-lever g is released, when it is raised by the action of the spring Z" and the local circuit is broken.

The annunciator needle d acts with the alarm-bellf so long as the local circuit is con trolled by the circuit-closers K K; but should it be found desirable to stop the audible alarm it may be accomplished by pushing the button 1;, so as to turn the lever O on its pivot, and by the engagement of the longer arm of the lever with the inclined face of the catch j raise the armature-lever g sufficiently to disengage the contact-spring ZVfrom the contact-screw 1-, and thus break the local circuit and stop the audible alarm without interfering with the amnmeiator-needle d, which continuesto indicate the state of the water in the boiler so long as the current from the battery L continues to flowthrough the wire I) or b. The relay-magnet e remains active and holds the armature-lever down in contact with the upper end-of the lever 0; but when the circuit of j, the arm '1", placed loosel the battery L is broken by the movement of the circuit-closers K K the armature-lever g is released, when it raised by the spring Z, and the lever 0, being released from the catch j, falls away out of the path of the armaturelever, so that when the circuit is again closed by the circnitclosers K K the armature-lever will be free to carry the contact-spring Z downward into'contact with the screw 0'', when the operation just described will be repeated.

In my improved water-level indicator the circuit-closing devices are hermetically sealed and protected from dust or accident, so that the action of the circuit-closers is always positive. The index 7 is arranged parallel with the tloatrod F, so that it always points to the center of the float, and thus affords a positive means of adjustment,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the float-spindle 10, ot' the auxiliary spindle c. the mercurial circuit-closers K K, the arm t, secured to the spindle c and provided with the curved bar on the spindle c and adjustable along the bar j, the flexible conductors q q l t, and means, substantially as herein described, for indicating an electric contact formed by either of the circuit-closers K K, specified.

2. The combination, with the float G and spindle E, of the auxiliary spindle c, the arm 1 fixed to the spindle c, and provided with the curved apcrtured bar j, the arm i, placed spindle c and adjustable along loosely on the the curved bar j, the circuit-closers K K, carried by the arms i '13, the index 9 and graduated scale 71, and an electric annunciator connected with the circuit-closers K K, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. In a water-level indicator forsteam-boilers, the combination, with the relay-magnet e and armature-lever 5 provided with the catch j, of the contactspring Z, the contactscrew 7*, and the lever O, for holding the spring Z out of contact with the screw 1', sub stantially as herein shown and (lGSCIlbCt 4. In a water-level indicator for steamboilers, the combination, with the relay-magnet c, and armature-lever 1, provided with the catch j, of the contact-spring Z, the contactscrew 7', the lever O, for holding the spring Z out of contact with the screw 1', and the springacted push rod 1, for operating the lever O, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination, with. the float (1 and spindle E, of the auxiliary spindle c. the fixed circuit-closer K, and the adjustable circuit closer K carried thereby, the annuneiaton magnets c c, the annunciatonneedle (Z, the relaymagnet c, the armature-lever y, and contact-spring Z, carried thereby, contact screw the electric bellf, and the electrical conductors connecting the bell, relay and annunciator magnets, and the local and main batteries, substantially as herein shown and described.

OHARLFS H. \VICKERSHAM.

Vitnesses:

JOHN T. ANCONA, \VI'LLIAM M. Bnw'rmc. 

